HOW

09/02/2026

The Chicago Board of Education just approved its first policy update in a decade for serving students in temporary living situations — and it's a meaningful step forward.

Key changes:
✅ Students must be enrolled the same day they show up at their zoned school (clarifying the federal "immediate" enrollment mandate)
✅ Schools must set aside private spaces for families to confidentially seek help
✅ Youth without a parent/guardian can now enroll themselves and consent to transportation — no parent signature required
✅ Guaranteed access to tech devices, fee waivers, transportation & extracurriculars
✅ Funded advocate positions at schools with 75+ students experiencing homelessness

Why it matters: At least 22,000 CPS students (6.8%) experienced homelessness in 2024-25 — more than double the national rate. This update aims to remove barriers and make sure support doesn't depend on ZIP code.

🔗 Read more: https://chicago.suntimes.com/chicago-school-board/2026/08/28/cps-policy-seeks-to-make-it-easier-for-students-experiencing-homelessness-to-enroll-in-school-and-get-support

09/02/2026

Housing is a human right. This October, we're running to prove it.

Join us for the 2026 HOW 5K on Saturday, Oct. 18 at Horner Park. Every registration helps keep Chicago families housed, connected to jobs, and supported through case management and health care — especially as federal funding grows more uncertain.

Run, walk, or bring the whole family (strollers welcome! 👶).

👉 Register now: https://runsignup.com/Race/IL/Chicago/HOW5K
📍 Horner Park, Chicago | 📅 10.18.2026

Join us for the 2026 HOW 5K on Sunday October 18th. Walk, run, or come celebrate HOW at a post-race afterparty!

08/28/2026

This week, our South Office was full of energy and possibilities. 💫

At our Pathways to Employment event, HOW clients sat down one-on-one with the team from Greater West Town Project to talk through everything from high school diploma options to hands-on training in logistics and manufacturing. Resumes got polished. Interview nerves got calmed. Enrollment questions got answered.

No two conversations looked the same, because no two paths look the same — and that's exactly the point.

Grateful to GWTP for showing up and meeting our clients where they are. This is what it looks like when partnership turns into progress. 🙌

08/20/2026

Backpacks: ✅ Snacks: ✅ Sunshine and smiles: ✅ Our Back2School Picnic at Washington Park had it all today!

HOW families stopped to pick up free backpacks and school supplies, played games, and enjoyed a picnic together in the sun.

Huge thanks to all of our volunteers, HOW staff, and everyone who donated to the event who helped make sure these kids start off the school year on the right foot.

08/18/2026

Last year, we couldn't have supported our neighbors without people like you. Now, with federal funding for homelessness programs growing more uncertain, that support matters even more.

Here's the thing: every single sign-up makes a real difference. Not "down-the -line impact — direct, immediate support for people working to find stability, keep a job, and stay housed right here in Chicago.

📅 October 18, 2026
📍 Horner Park, Chicago

Grab your spot before race day sneaks up on you.

Register: https://runsignup.com/Race/IL/Chicago/HOW5K

08/14/2026

It's that time of year again!

HOW is hosting our annual Back 2 School Drive on Aug. 20 at Washington Park — helping youth experiencing homelessness start the school year with the supplies they deserve.

🎒 Backpacks are our #1 need right now. Without one, a student walks into class with nothing to carry their future in.

Every donation helps make sure no kid starts the year behind. Give today (links in the caption below)

08/06/2026

Mark your calendars: the HOW 5K is returning Oct. 18 to Horner Park!

Housing is a human right. This fall, we're lacing up to prove it. Every step you take helps keep our neighbors housed across Chicago.

As federal funding for homelessness programs grows more uncertain, community support matters more than ever. Your registration directly funds:

🏡 Permanent housing
🤝 Case management
💼 Employment services
🩺 Health care support
👨‍👩‍👧 Family & youth services

Plus, the event doesn't stop at the finish line. Stick around for a post-race slice and good conversation with your community at Irving Park Pizza & Patio.

Sign up, run for a great cause, and help us raise support to end homelessness across our wonderful city.

For more information, visit:
how-inc.org/how-5k

08/03/2026

"There's really an existential crisis in the future of SNAP."

More than 4 million Americans have dropped off food stamps since last July, following the 2025 tax and spending law that reshaped SNAP eligibility. New work requirements now cover veterans, older adults, and parents of teens, while some immigrants lost access entirely.

This especially hurts HOW's client base. 77% of HOW heads of household (HoHs) received SNAP benefits at some point during 2025.

More from NPR:

SNAP, also known as food stamps, has seen a rapid and consistent participation decline since last July. The drop comes as the program faces historic cuts and changes.

07/30/2026

This August, we're partnering with Greater West Town Project to open new doors to education, career training, and real employment opportunities.

Our goal is simple: give HOW clients easy access to industry-recognized job training, high school diplomas, career coaching, and employment opportunities that actually lead somewhere.

Housing lays the foundation––lasting stability means going a step further. We can't wait to make that step forward with our clients and GWTP next month!

07/26/2026

36 years ago, the Americans with Disabilities Act became law. Today, we celebrate how far that promise has come — and how far we still have to go.

The ADA changed what's possible for millions of people, including the people HOW serves every day. But a law can only open a door. It can't walk someone through it. That takes real support.

At HOW, we know independence isn't one-size-fits-all. For some clients, it starts with a roof over their head. For others, it's consistent healthcare. For all of them, it's someone who sees their disability as part of who they are — not something standing in their way.

Last year, 96% of the clients we housed were living with one or more disabilities, while 92% had active health insurance connecting them to real care. That's a promise turned into a lived reality.